Sole grooving machine



Oct. 13, 1931.

o. L. LAWSON 1,826,796

SOLE GROOVING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1926 INVENl'EH Z (QM 5160....

Oc 13, 1931; o, L, LAWSON 1,826,796

SOLE GROOVING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. 4 &2 L /////A\/ V VINVENLEIV:

Oct. 13, 1931. o. L. LAWSON 1,825,796

SOLE GROOVING MA-CHINE Filed June 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 p jectionable' inthecase.

Patented Oct. 13 51931:

OSCAR Q LLOF LYnNQ lMassAoiiUsEr'rs;; ssrG1 onj "BY'MESNE Ass/mums;-

'ro. UNITED suonmncnmmx conronnrrorr, onimrnnson; NEwqERsEY;A;;com=.

. IPOBATION or nnw mnsnx V p Application-filed: 412;

as embodied-in a machine; fonnfor ning in-the to receiyethe of a shank 'ron or shanks shank-portion of a sole agnoo-Ve i stiflenlng r1b stiffener:

"In the manufactureiof boots shoes, it is customaryto applysto; theishank. portionof; Y

the sole astiffeneror, shankironito reinforce 1 and maintain point; A' shank stifl'ener' of theatype now quite generally employedlis composedof sheet metaLand is formed withjalongitudinal ribto increase the rigidity:

sole'.' and: is particularly 01othe face of the 0ft ajturnedishoe' 1n-v which the stifi'ener orrshank; iron is.; located on the inner side of the 'sole-iandis, covered? 203 by an att-achedleather shank-piece, I Infonder produce as: closea fitnas' possibleibetween! iti-ihas. been.

Stlfifl}? to the sole and: the shank stiffener;

customary, after the insertion; ofIthe: er, to pound the sole onan iron last, bllfi hlsn 7253' has not produced satisfactory-results; and;

has, moreover, tended to;distort";thejstifienelfr and especially to flatten out rib which, usuallytcon prises ai corrugatlon' formed in the metalof the stiffener; 391 Some attempts ception of the stiffening I 'rib' 1 on lthe 'shank. iron,']out this hasbeen diflicult f? accomplish? n ment, in a satisfactory manner by-meansmfw the facilities availalole intheart; and has' not so far as Iam awargbeen done to anyvery considerable extent. iMoreoyer-the grooye; formed in the sole lnust be"carefullyjfor ned and,accuratelyjpositioned and centeredfii'th'e" shank iron, -is,to,l be properly located andj fitted", and the formatij'onfof such; agrooiw; has

not been practicable: in 'jquantity, production;

In View of the foregoing one object: of the.

present invention: is to provide;-

Wherebysolesof Varying sizes. may be rapidly v and cheaply provided with. V grooves; to regingi-autom'aticallyand acouratelyfiflfltm-ed; 011; and "ali'ned :with'; i

' oe'ive and fit metal stifl'en ers, the grooyesibe 1926. Serial No. -115,458.'

the shapejofthesolevatthis-n; .Workholder for. positioning.v

thereof; This rib 151 prevents "the Y stiffener-i fromlying: fia upon the: stiffening have been made to gBOOXGy the shankportion--of the1=so1e.-for-.;the-4 11.6.71 1 tiollasilbstantially"on:theline l 0 of; the parts priorjtqthe intro(lil'ict.i onjof; l

'stiflenier; in: placethereo'n. 1

a 1T1 aCl1lI 61;

the; longitudinal rib b A. (Fig.

thev shank-portions i th soLE'enoovmGMAcHmn a Y soles and also properly.positioned-Iongitudi: nallyiof the latterf 1 To the accomplishment of thisxobjecti onei feature of the .invention consistsin, theupxio- ViSlOIlggiiL airnachine- A solegrooyi "g. me ns n aa rk ho cler c new. tiyely. .movalolee to 7 form a, groove-in; a, sole and' meanszonithe workvlioldellselfacljnstablb, V to soles of different sizes: in directions both Widthwise and. lengthwise of, a rsole, on. the. o0 the: sole bojtli; longitudinally and transversely,relatively. to. thegroovingineans; 'r a f More particular objectsfofthe .inyenti0n.,;, together With me ansgwhereloy' the ilattenmax mb m nt-thereof il'lustratedin the accom- H Fig.1 is aivplanview of ythetinacliihewith;

aagsolein place on theiworkholder,v v a p leration withihei Fig '2, is a. View; front work'gand-the side, positioning" devices; in sec; I; p p oking; Wing the positions? Fi .1 3 isia View, inside; eievaebm;

frorngtheleftpin Fig. 2, sh

sro v ngz m h y Fig. 5 is}, a sectional,

M v viewtakemsi bstane. t allyyonithe line5-75,Figs;

.zFig 6 is an: enlarged: transjerse sectional; 9, 7

howing; av

view of,- thegroovedi sole Figs. .4v andt'oiisl shown hai sole shank portion @of I which is, providedain: one. face-with a longitudinal groove kitoQ receii'eg- 5.,

stiffener or ir onBJ. The. crQSssectiQmlibrnnf ofi the. groove 1; I is; compleme t r t thyof Y J,

the rib. b, thierebyg-permitting. fthe Sufism; B,"

to; lie; fiat upon the sole A with the adjaceniy 1 09 j j. -1,s26,79e f for. grooving, solesgoi gs slh I bi, f bee-icarriediinto;efiect willlbest be,underst0Q .frointheqfollowing. description ofjapreferred.

i The upright 15 is suitable hearings in able belt, not shown. "18 is extended to a point substantially over the surfaces of the sole and stiffener in engagement with one another throughout. The groove (1 is accurately centered with respect to the shank of the sole A, is alined with the medianflline' of the sole, and is properly posi-' tioned longitudinally thereof in accordance with the length and required position of the stiffener, sothat the latter may be properly positioned on'the sole merely by assembling the parts with the rib Z) in the groove a. One form of machine for so producing and locating the groove a in a rapid, accurate,.and convenient manner is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. i

The frame of the machine comprises two uprights 15 and 16 carried by a base or table 1'1" which is supported at a convenient height above the floor.

provided at its top with which is journalled .a horizontal shaft 18 carrying a belt pulley 19 by which said shaft may be rotated from any convenient source of power through a suit- One end of the shaft center of the upright 16 and hassecured thereto a rotary grooving cutter 20 having a relatively narrow peripheral working face ally reciprocated on the 60 i whose cross section corresponds to that of "the rib on the shank stifiener.

Guided for vertical movement in the upright'16 is aslide or plunger 21 having a head 22 carrying aguide 23 extending horizontally, or in a directionperpendicular to the plane of rotation of the cutter 20 and located immediately under the latter. The plunger 21 is connected by a rod 24 with a lever 25 suitably pivoted beneath the table 17 and in turn connected by a link 26 with a treaclle 27 on the floor, whereby the plunger 21 and parts carried thereby may be raised and lowered at will. 'The head 22 of the plunger 21 is provided with a depending stud 28 guided in a laterally projecting lug 29 on the upright 16, said stud being provided, he:

with an adjustable stop nut 30 low. said lug, hel d i'n adjusted position by a lock nut 31, said stop nut engaging the under face of the lug 29 to limit the upward movement of the plunger 21 and the guide 23.

Mounted on the guide 23 for movement past the periphery of the cutter 20 in a direction perpendicular to the plane ofrotation of the ,cutterand at right angle's'to the axis of the 55' cutter, is a work holder or slide 32 having means for positioning the sole thereon, said work holder being provided with suitable handles 33 whereby the same may be manue guide 23. Secured to the under side of the slide 32, adjacent to one side 34 which cooperate with stop screws 35 to limit the movement of the work holder on its guide in both directions. The stop screws 35 areadjustably mounted in laterallyproject- 7 wardly by means of thereof, are two angular stop lugs ing ears 36 formed at the end of the head 22', said stop screws being held in adjusted position by means of lock nuts 37 The means for positioning the sole A on the work holder or slide 32comprise yieldingly mounted end and side positioning members. The end positioning member comprises a slide 38 having a longitudinal rib 39 guided in a suitable groove 40 in the upper face of the slide 32 adjacent the rear end of the latter, said slide 38 being normally drawn fora spring 41 connecting with the adjacent end of "the slide 32." At its forward end the slide 38 is formed with a flaring or generally V-shaped notch or recess 42 to receive and center the heel end of the sole A, said notch the outer end thereof or recess being symmetrically disposed with plane of rotation of the cutter segmental arms 44 extending toward and in.

tergeared with one another, and forwardly extending substantially parallel arms 45 symmetrically disposed with respect to the planev of rotation of the cutter. The arms44 are connected by a spring 46 exerting a pressure thereon tending normally to press the fore ward ends of the arms 45 yieldingly toward each otherp The forward ends of the arms 45 are shaped to engage and substantially lit the opposite edges of a sole A substantially at the junction of the shank and forepart thereof, and have pivoted to their upper surfaces the wings 47 the free edges of which overlie a sole positioned between said positioning members and-are yieldingly pressed against the face of said'sole by leaf springs 48. i

In operation, the plunger 21 is permitted to assume its lowermost position, which it will do under'the influence of gravity, shown in Fig. 3, and the slide 32 pushed into its rearmost position (determined by engagement of the rear stop lug 34 with the corre sponding stop screw 35) by means of the handles 33, as also shown in said figure; A sole A is then pushed rearwardly between the free ends of the arms 45 and into the notch 42 in the slide 38, said arms 45 and the wings 47 yieldingso far as may be necessary to permit such insertion of the sole. Engagement of the heel end of the sole with the notch 42 accurately centers the former. The rearward movement of the sole is continued (the slide 38 yielding to permit this additional movement) until the forward ends of the arms 45 are'brought into engagementwith the edges ofthe sole adjacent the point ofv junction between theshank and forepart. This operation centers the shank with respect to the cutter 20, and since the heel end of the sole has also been centered by the notch 42 in the slide 38, the median line of the sole is brought substantially into the plane of rotation of said cutter. The longitudinal position of the sole is also determined by the points of engagement of the side positioning members therewith. The treadle 27 is then depressed, lifting the head22 and parts carried thereby as far as permitted by engagement of the'stop nut 30 with the lug 29. This brings the work A into engagement with the cutter 20 which incises the same to formthe I 32 from the periphery of the cutter, as the forward end of the groove a. The slide 32 is then drawn forwardly by the handles 33 as'far as permitted by engagement of the forward stop lug 34 with the corresponding stop screws'35, thereby completing the groove.

During this operation the yielding wings 47 hold the sole flat upon the work holder. The

treadle 27 is then released to permit the work holder to be lowered away from the cutter, and the vwork removed, thereby completing the cycle of operations.

It will be seen that the work is brought into engagement with the cutter by elevation of the plunger 21, and that the depth of the groove cut will be determined by the point to which said plunger is elevated. This point must be such that the distance separating the upper, or work-receiving, surface of the slide former is moved past the latter, is equal to the thickness of the sole less the depth of the groove. The point in question is determined by engagement of the sto nut 30' with the lug 29, and this point, an consequently the depth of the groove, may accordingly be varied by adjustment of said stop nut. It will also be seen'that the length of the groove and the position of the rear and forward ends 7 thereof are determined by engagement of the stop lugs 34 with the stop screws 35 and that I these may also be varied by adjustment of the stop screws. The machine is therefore adaptable to operation upon soles: of a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and the sole positioning devices described are such as to center accurately a sole of substantially any style or size within wide limits. The machine is capable of rapid operation to produce accurate results without the exercise of any considerable skill on the part of the operator.

aving thus described my invention, 1|

claim:

1. A machine for grooving soles comprise ing, in combination, grooving means, awork holder guided'for movement to and past the grooving means, and sole edge engaging means on said holder self adjustable to soles of different sizes'and arranged to engage a sole at the forward portion of the shank for po'sitioning' the sole. longitudinally on said holder and for centering said: sole transversely with reference to said grooving means.

2. A machine for grooving soles compris mg; in combinatioznigroovingmeans,Qaaworka.

holdeni: and l means= om said worksholden for? positioning sole thereon,1 said: positioning:

means including-: yielding". membersg adapted-1 to'engage-respectively. the end ia'nd'ish ankpora;

for grooving soles comprise. 1

ingg in' combination, groovingrmeans," a works holder, and vm'eansonsaid work holder forzpo a sitioning a sole thereon,..-said "positioning means comprising aimember yieldable longi= .tudina lly of the i sole and having 4 a notch to:

receive I the end of. a sole. and 5 yielding .;IIIBm'- ibers arranged to engage the sole edge at the shank:portion of thasole to position the sole longitudinally; relatively to said: grooving me'ansa 4'. A machine for grooving soles" compris i mg, incombination, groovingmeansg-awork holder, sole positioningjmeansonsaid: work holder guided for movement lengthwise got? the:sole pos'itioned on saidwvork holder amt,

having anotch to receive the hee'l portion or? a-sole; a spring for yield'ingly. resisting movel ment-ofsaidamemher', and means self ad]1 1stto? engage the shank portionofi th'e sole: to

det'e'iimin'ei the longitudinal position of the: sole relatively to the grooving 1neans.--' i V 5. A machine for groovingz'solesrcompris ing, in combination, groovingmeans, a work holder, and means on said-worktholden for p0 sitioning .a :sole thereon',hsaid positionlng one anotherandarmsi having portions engag means 'including apair' of bell-crankshavingj 'armssextending towardand ntergeared Wlth' roe ingsthea sides'iof the, sole substantially: at the junction" of" the shank Land forepjart', a

spring connecting 'saidjfirst named arm's for yieldingly pressing said? lastznamedi arms-to- Wardeachotlie'nl 3 Y t 6. A machine for grooving soles compris ing, in combination, grooving means, a work holder, and means on said work holder for positioning a sole thereon, said positioning means includinga pair of positioning members engaging the edges of the sole,;means for yieldingly pressing said members toward each other, and means carried by'said members respectively; for yieldingly pressing said sole u on said work holder.

7. machine for grooving soles comprising, in combination, grooving means, a work holder, and meanson said work holder for positioning asole, thereon, said positioning f means including a pair of positioning mem bers engaging theedges of the sole, means for yieldingly pressing said members toward 7 each other, pivoted. wings carried by said [members and overlyingsaid sole, and springs for yieldingly pressing said wings'against the i face of said sole.

8. A machine for grooving soles compris ing, in combination, a rotary cutter, a work holder,a guide inlwhich the work holder is do ablefto soles'of" different sizesand arranged" mounted for movement in aplane; perpen dicular to the plane of rotation of the cutter,

adjustable means for limiting the movement of the work holder relatively to the guide, means for moving said guide in a path parallel to the plane of rotation ofthe cutter to move the Work toward and from the-cutter, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movementof the guide in one direction.

9. A machine for grooving soles comprising, in combination, a rotary cutter, a Work holder guided for independent movements toward and from said cutter and in a direction parallel to the plane of rotation thereof, independently adjustable stops for limiting said last named movement in opposite directions,respectively, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movement of said vvork holder toward said cutter.

ing, in combination, grooving means, a Work holder, and means on sald Work holder for positioning a sole thereon, said posltioning means lncluding a member yielding longitudinally of the sole and having a notch to receive one end of a sole, a pair of interconnected members arranged to engage the lateral edges of the sole, and means for yieldingly pressing said last named members toward each other.

11. A machine for grooving soles comprising, in combination, grooving means and a Work holder relatlvely movable to form a groove in a sole, and means on the Work holder jself adjustable to soles of different sizes in directions both widthwise and lengthwise of a sole on the work holder for positioning the sole both longitudinally and transversely rel atively to the grooving means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature OSCAR L. LAWSON.

10. A machine for grooving soles compris- 

